The view from the outhouse
Friday December 17, 2021
Yesterday we had our big outing, a trip to the post office. This is the farthest we have been from the cabin for several months, 5 miles. Roger and Cory are going to go also so we agreed to meet in the slough at 9:45 so we can get our packages and letters on the twice weekly mail plane that is scheduled for today. We were up early and got our gear on for the trip. It is fairly warm, about 10 degrees so the snow machines started right up. While they were warming up we strapped the packages on them for the trip. We rode the quarter mile down to the slough where Roger and Cory were waiting right on schedule. Roger is the lead dog followed by Cory, then Kari, with me bringing up the rear. There is a trail up the Yentna River where a few machines had already made a trip. We have had about 20” of snow so I expected a smooth trail. We have had some wind off and on the last week or so but it is fairly calm today. I was surprised to see bare gravel on some of the sandbars after so much snow. There weren’t any drifts, where did it all go? Just evaporated like the tax dollars we send the Brandon administration, I guess. After about 3 miles we go through a small slough and come out the end at the confluence of the Skwentna and Yentna Rivers. I know from boating here in the summer that the river is about 30 feet deep at this spot. I’m not overly concerned crossing here but it is always in the back of my mind. The trail on the Skwentna is non existent so Roger is picking his way through, blazing the trail for the rest of us. We need more snow to smooth things out. You can still feel some small logs and gravel spots that we cross. We made it to the post office. It had started snowing by the time we went into the tiny post office. The oil stove in the middle of the lobby makes it feel like it is 300 degrees in there with our winter gear on. Postmaster Steve gets all the neighborhood mail around for Roger and Cory to deliver and gets our packages ready to send. The phone rang, no mail plane today, mission is scrubbed due to bad weather. Maybe it can make it tomorrow. The plane is a Cessna 206. In addition to the mail it also carries passengers if there is room.
Our winter caravan headed back down the river, split off in the slough and headed back to the asylum. We are going to go to Roger and Myra’s later this afternoon to do some maintenance on our machines. Later we are going to have tacos and beverages, if you know what I mean.
Meanwhile back at the cabin, Kari is getting things around for the party, taco shells, lettuce, tomatoes, and a bottle of Costco’s finest premixed margaritas. It contains what I call “Einsteinium” so I can get really smart later. Funny “Einsteinium” is in my spell checker, I must use it a lot. Anyway one of the packages has a book for me, oh wow, an early Christmas present. I opened it. The title is “I’m Dead. Now What?”. Is there something Kari knows and isn’t telling me? Or does she have plans? For now I’ll keep walking and riding in my Z pattern and checking my 6.
Turns out it is a place to record all your financial information, your funeral instructions, who you would like to give that special pair of pliers to, etc. She is younger than me so I notice she just got one copy.
We locked the boys in and headed out for the Phillips. I know the boys could run the two miles over there, or Cooper would run, Teddy would ride on the back of the snowmachine as usual. We just don’t want them to get into that habit. I don’t want to be chasing them down with the snow machine, dressed only in my underwear at 10 o’clock at night when they decide to go for a visit.
Roger and I cleaned the RAVE valves on Kari’s machine. I was just going to change oil in mine but Kari got to the shop door first. Anyway nice to have that task finished.
Time for tacos. I might add the Einsteinium seemed to work. I kicked butt in a game of Rummikub. I like that game because I know all my numbers but not all of my letters yet. Maybe, just maybe I need some more Einsteinium. Kari says no, it’s time to go home you’ve had enough, to which I eloquently replied “Yes, dear”
I woke up very early 4:15. It will be daylight in a little over 6 hours. The thermometer said plus 2 but in a couple hours would change its mind and put a minus in front of the 2. It is going the wrong way if it wants to make the forecast of plus 9 by sunset.
We got 2 or 3 inches of fresh snow overnight so it may be a good time to pack and groom the local trails and airstrip. I’m going to head to Rogers later to change oil in my machine to get ready for the hauling season. Lots of freight to move. Propane, building material, food, gasoline, diesel, Sakrete, to mention a few of the things we need out here for the summer and next winter. I figure 15 trips if not more. It ain’t easy running a big asylum like Spruce Manor. It makes me tired just thinking about it. I think it is time for a nap.
Stay safe and healthy my friends, and please stay out of Walmart. Buy American, Be American.
Thank you Lord for your endless list of blessings you have given us.
I’ll be in touch
Blue skies!!
The View from the Outhouse 